Changes of Soil Properties in Corn (Zea mays L.) Fields Treated with Compost and Liquid Fertilizer

The application of various conditioners in agriculture is one of the management practices used to improve soil quality and plant growth and development. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a multi-component conditioner on the selected soil properties and maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield. The effect of a conditioner on a set of soil properties and maize growth and yield was studied in one-year experiments carried out at three study sites, which were under a conventional tillage system. All of the study sites were located on farms in three geographic mezoregions in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Region (Midwestern Poland). The studied soils were Haplic Luvisol (Janocin and Kobylnica) and Albic Luvisols (Krukówko) that were composed of sandy loam. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the effect of a conditioner Solactiv on the soil and plant properties. The conditioner significantly affected the soil enzyme activities such as dehydrogenase (DHA), fluorescein sodium salt hydrolysis level (FDAH) and carboxymethylcellulose cellulase (CMC—cellulase); wherein the last one increased by about 16–20%. The application of Solactiv also increased the available K content (about 11%) but not the content of the microbial biomass C and N. Total porosity (TP), which was significantly higher in the soil treated with conditioner than in the control soils, increased the available water capacity (AWC) (about 2.2%). The higher AWC in the treated soil indicated the greater contribution of the mesopores in the TP (about 4%). A significantly higher readily available water capacity (RAWC) and small pores available water capacity (SAWC) was determined in the treated soils compared to the controls. Of the plant properties, only plant height, fresh cob biomass (BBCH 87–89) and fresh plant biomass (BBCH 84–85) were significantly increased by the conditioner. The application of Solactiv is considered to be a promising approach for developing sustainable agriculture by improving the soil’s biological activity and water-related properties.

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Soil properties and the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in response to reed (phragmites communis) biochar use in a salt-affected soil in the Yellow River Delta

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2020.107124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 303 ◽

pp. 107124

Author(s):

Liang Xiao ◽

Guodong Yuan ◽

Lirong Feng ◽

Dongxue Bi ◽

Jing Wei

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Zea Mays ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Yellow River ◽

Yellow River Delta ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

The Yellow River ◽

Phragmites Communis ◽

The Yellow River Delta

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Effects of municipal solid waste compost and mineral fertilizer amendments on soil properties and heavy metals distribution in maize plants (Zea mays L.)

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.08.025 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 85 (10) ◽

pp. 1614-1623 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Gregoria Carbonell ◽

Rosario Miralles de Imperial ◽

Manuel Torrijos ◽

Mar Delgado ◽

José Antonio Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Zea Mays ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Compost ◽

Maize Plants

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Improving Soil Properties and Yield of Corn (Zea Mays L.) by Application of Organic Amendment on Abandoned Tin-Mining Land in Bangka Island

Journal of Tropical Soils ◽

10.5400/jts.2016.v21i3.141-151 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 141-151

Author(s):

. Asmarhansyah

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Rice Straw ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Cattle Manure ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Mining Areas

An abandoned land after tin-mining activities are degraded lands with undulating and destructed land scape and low soil fertility status. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of organic amendments on the soil properties, growth, and grain yield of corn (Zea mays L.) on abandoned tin-mining areas in Bangka Island, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. The field experiment was conducted at the abandoned tin-mining areas in Cambai Village, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. Five treatments of organic amendments were applied and replicated three times and laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design. All treatments were applied with the recommended rate fertilizer of 135 kg N ha-1, 72 kg P2O5 ha-1, and 120 kg K2O ha-1. The treatments were T1= 20 Mg chicken manure ha-1;T2= 20 Mg cattle manure ha-1; T3= 20 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; T4 : 10 Mg of chicken manure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; and T5= 10 Mg cattlemanure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost ha-1. Application of organic amendments (chicken manure, cattle manure, and rice straw compost) on abandoned tin-mining land improved soil fertility due to the increasing of soil pH and nutrient availability, especially available-P and -K, and exchangeable bases. Application of chicken manure and cattle manure were significantly better than rice straw compost to improving soil fertility, nutrient uptake, growth and yield of maize. Application of cattle manure gave the highest yield of maize, namely 6.24 Mg ha-1.

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